How powerful is the European Union?

Question

How powerful is the European Union compared to the US, China and Russia?

Will the European Union ever become a superstate?

Serious answers only please.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

European Union Army kind of bad joke for now, EU countries had own armies but they far away decent mobilization and combat experience .. they can't deployed armored vehicles from Europe to Africa via Air without American support, rofl .. what a shame.

We saw this at EUFOR missions, they act like a school boys at Bosnia. ( It was a so scary for us .. u can't Imagine it ) they send military supplies with civilian "rental" ships who carry standart cargo.

.. madness.

Other hand some EU forces had enough fire power and experience to lead rest of it at battlefield. Because they already serve for peace under UN flag at many conflict zones or fight with terrorists at Iraq, Afghanistan etc.

Like British and Turkish army , literally other EU countries had military people too, but they sends ( to conflict zones ) non-combat units like Germans for logistic supply, communication services , observers etc.

They don't have any Idea truths about battlefields ( except special forces, I'm talking about regular troopers & officers ) that's why when a combat unit involved a action for defeat enemy or ask permission for join fight ; Eufor HQ can't decide easily / quickly for responsible answer , because they haven't testicles and experience enough .. that's why we loose time , we lost positions against enemy forces.

Once ( can't gave details about that ) we was spends more than 14h. for open fire permission against opposite forces who defend a strategic point , HQ was send a reconnaissance plane for 3 times to see what's happen there.

When we had permission was too late :(

Several European countries can handle Issues by solo ( Like britons and turks ) but we can't say some good things about "United" Euro Army.

EU officials knows this bitter truth at very well. That's why they want U.S bases at Europe ..

.. let me give a example from Turkey .. Turkish Army had a AWACS fleet like few other modern western army because Turkey well known someting about possible EU support .. If we need some extra fire power for a reason they will support us too late and/or with limitation .. weeks later maybe.

That's why Turkish army trained for ( size / mobilization / fire power ) fight with Russian forces by solo.

and that's why we had huge army .. Because we know EU Army to weak for major combats against Russia or Allies ..

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks.

I do think the EU will oneday by quite a powerful Union though.
The EU already has the largest economy in the world. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few decades.

Answer 2

Not very. The do not have a serious military at all. Not counting Britain whose military is quite good, most of the militaries of European countries are a joke to their own citizenry and considered an obstacle in Afghanistan due to lack of modern equipment. Turkey could take most of the EU in a fight. The EU basically relies on NATO meaning the USA to defend them. That's why Europeans have lots of money for universal healthcare and six weeks of paid vacation--American taxpayers provide the bodyguard services.
In order for the EU to become a superstate, there would have to be a major shift of attitudes and tax allocations in Europe.

Edit: This question is in the military section, not the economy section, therefore I answered how powerful the European Union is militarily.

Answer 3

maybe in the future they might, but as of sometime soon...no. if you mean militarily they are a joke besides the UK and POSSIBLY france. the EU's combined economy is about the same as the US's and therefor is better than china's and russia's. the EU could definately take russia or china in a war.